Experimental validation of MED forward feed steady-state model

This work presents the adaptation of a simple model to evaluate the physical performance of Multi-Effect-Distillation (MED) forward feed plants and its validation by comparing the results with real data. It is intended to use this model in the future in conjunction with simulation tools for Concentrated Solar Thermal Power (CSP) plants. The convergence criterion is based on the maximum difference between the heat transfer areas. The major internal thermodynamic losses and losses to the surroundings are assumed constant for all effects. The real data was obtained using the experimental MED plant at Plataforma Solar de Almeria (PSA) under steady-state operation near design conditions. The results indicate that the model can be used to make a first analysis on these type of systems. (C) 2014 Published by Elsevier Ltd.